suedownunder

Davidgo,
we'll be in US for almost 2 weeks and more than anything I will need it to text my daughter back home. I don't anticipate lots of actual calling.

Orlando_Vic

suedownunder-
If you have an unlocked GSM phone, all you have to do is get a US SIM card with prepaid minutes and start using it. T-Mobile is but one company that has a prepaid "starter set" available. Although, incoming calls WILL be charged, unlike Australia.

A little over 2 years ago, I did the reverse of what you want to do, and it worked out quite well. I bought an unlocked GSM phone here and an Optus SIM card for Australia. A month later, when I returned home, I bought a US SIM card (through T-Mobile) and started using it...and still do.

You will have absolutely no problems!

doug_stallings

I'm really confused by the costs being discussed here. AT&T Wireless has several Go phones with pay-as-you-go plans for $40 to $60 for the phone, then .25 per minute for calls (or $1 per day plus .10 per minute for calls).

Virgin Mobile has similar service, though these are not GSM phones and will not work anywhere but the US.

It seems to me that any of these options is cheaper than $200 for 2 weeks.

Am I missing something here?

You just walk into any AT&T Mobile store, pay about $60 and walk out with a phone and $20 worth of talk time. Unless you plan to use the phone constantly, I just can't imagine using that many minutes over a 2-week vacation.

nyer

davidgo, you did not upset me, just confuse many people here. You may be in a situation where the plan you suggest works, but you did not explain in your original post what the situation is . The company you suggest would be much more expensive to use for most travelers than all the other choices given here.
Live and let live!

davidgo

Dear Doug_Stallings

You are right with your point if you are a very low user, however think about with a AT&T phone if you use your phone for 2 hours only a day (a 24 hour period) and paying 10 cents per min. you will be paying $182 for usage and the $1 daily rate. Plus the cost of a phone, and running around to refill your cards and that’s more then the $195 with that unlimited company.

I do have a company that I need to receive calls from and I cannot be on a limit.

davidgo

suedownunder

Keep in mind that the USA cell phone companies charge a lot for international text.

doug_stallings

You didn't explain in your initial post that you are going to be using the phone constantly for business. I thought you were on vacation, so that's a very differen thing. I missed the post about needing to be on the phone an hour daily. And I know you'll be charged separately for text messages at about .05 per message on AT&T.

I guess for piece of mind, having unlimited minutes is what you need just in case you are on the phone for 2 hours a day, though I just did the math, and one hour a day at .10 per minute plus $1 per day comes out to $98 for 2 weeks. Add $40 for a phone, and $50 for 1000 text messages, and that's still considerably under $200.

But I see your point.

davidgo

dear Doug_Stallings

you see thats my point,
With all your calculations it comes out to $188 (that’s only $7 less then rentusamobile.com )
And you can only talk for 1 hour a day.

For $7 more you have the conformability of have unlimited minutes and without having to run around to fill up cards

So you tell me, what makes more sense?

ipod_robbie

This starting to smell a lot like a thinly disguised ad for one cell phone rental co.

I must admit many of us took dg to be a legit poster, but the veil has fallen.

We get it davidgo, your cell phone rental co may be a good deal in certain, very limited circumstances. For the general traveling public, however, it is clearly not.

Now please take your advertising elsewhere.

suedownunder

Guys,
I can see how this thread has degenerated but I still have 2 questions that I need answered please.
Do T Mobile and AT & T have kiosks in airports or do I have to find a shopping mall. My first stop is San FRancisco.
Also does anyone have any idea what charges would be for international texts.
thanks

Orlando_Vic

suedownunder-
I can't recall that mobile phones are sold at airport kiosks. (There may be rare exceptions, however. Just not aware of them.)

If you go T=Mobile's web site, you will see that phone and/or accessories can be shipped to you. I assume AT&T does this too. Perhaps you could arrange to have your phone shipped to the hotel where you will be spending your first night in SF.

Sorry, I have no information on charges for international texts.

doug_stallings

Most airports have cell phone stores, but I don't know if you'll find specific kiosks devoted to Tmobile or AT&T specifically. What you'll probably find is a general store that sells a lot of different kinds of phones, including Go Phones by AT&T and pre-paid phones by Tmobile.

But I don't think it's likely that you'll find these stores in the arrivals section ... they are usually in departure shopping areas. But SF will have many, many cell phone stores. If you ask at your hotel desk (assuming your hotel is somewhere in a normal tourist area of SF), I would wager you'll find a store within a 5-minute walk of your hotel, especially if you are staying in the Union Square area.

International text messages usually cost somewhere between .05 and .10 in the U.S. You should check with you own mobile provider. You might not have to pay extra to send a text message while roaming in the U.S. if you have a GSM phone, so if you are mostly going to do text messages and save the phone for emergencies, it might not really pay to buy a U.S. phone.

logos999

>having to run around to fill up cards
Nobody needs to do this, of course you pick a SIM card with auto recharge from your credit card.
If you want GSM buy a T-Mobile prepaid (I'd prefer www.tuyo.com because you'll get that 10ct/min rate).

Recharging will be done automatically from your CC, no furter intervention or rental nonsense needed. Have the card sent to your home address before you leave. (Tuyo SIMs with $10 preloaded cost $8. Ebay's your friend here.) Make a phonecall to activate the card and leave your CC number for the automated recharge. THAT'S ALL!

suedownunder

Thanks for all the tips guys.
Doug I imagine I will find a store within minutes once I stow my luggage and go for a walk.
Logos999 makes a good point about recharging so I will look into buying one online.
I bought an international SIM online last year but it was troublesome and the charges were outrageous.
Will investigate further,thanks

doug_stallings

Davidgo's situation aside, the typical vacationer is probably still better off using his/her own GSM phone and just paying the roaming charge.

To call home, buy pre-paid calling cards, which will give you about an hour's talk-time for $5 or so.

Think about it this way: Even if you made 50 2-minute calls over 2 weeks at $1.50 per minute, you'd still spend only $150, and I doubt you can buy a phone and plan for that. If you use a combination of pay phones and toll-free numbers, you can save even more. I guess I just don't understand the mindset of spending huge amounts of money thinking you're going to be using your phone constantly when on vacation.

logos999

>$150, and I doubt you can buy a phone and plan for that.

Doug, there are numerous offers in the US at Walmart, 7/11 and others that sell phones activate them and give you a new number for $20 to $40. I myself bought a $35 Alltel phone with $20 calling credit years ago. When I come back to the US I get it reactivated for free and 2 hours talking time for free. If you already own a phone, a SIM with $10 airtime, activation included costs $8. A minute to european landlines (direct dial) is 12ct/min with this offer.
You won't have a problem at all, unless you want to use data, which seems to be a problem for a tourist to get.